STRAC to USAPT

Information contributed by Jerry Bourquin

STRAC TEAM, The STRAC (Strategic Army Corps) team was the brain
child of Brigadier General Joe Stilwell, son of Vinegar Joe Stilwell of the China, Burma,
India theater of WWII.
Stilwell wanted the Army to have a unit that would represent the Army and also be useful in recruiting
men for the Airborne.

The team was started in Nov. 1959 as a special duty assignment. All members were assigned to other units at Fort Bragg. The assigned units did not care much for the absence of the team, as they were filling slots but never
present to perform any duties.

The initial team consisted of 12 jumpers and
Company Commander, Major Sheppard. The First Sgt. was John T. Hollis.
Jerry Bourquin was the 12th and final member to join the team and that was official in
April 1960.

First Team Roster

CPT James Perry, Commander

MSG John Hollis, First Sergeant

1LT Roy Martin, Executive Officer

2LT James Pearson, Operations Officer

2LT Douglas Runnels, Public Affairs Officer

SFC Jerry Bourquin, Parachutist

SGT Loy Brydon, Parachutist

SGT Danny Byard, Parachutist

SGT Wilfred Charette, Parachutist

SFC William Edge, Parachutist

SP5 Richard Fortenberry, Parachutist

PFC Keith Jorgensen, Parachutist

SP4 Bobby Letbetter, Parachutist

SFC Herald Lewis, Parachutist

SP4 Coy McDonald, Parachutist

PFC Robert McDonnell, Parachutist

SGT Joe Norman, Parachutist

SFC Ralph Palmer, Parachutist

PFC Roy Smith, Parachutist

The team was known as the STRAC Team from Nov. 1959 to June 1961. It then changed its name to
the United States Army Parachute Team or USAPT.

There was no budget from 1959 to 1961. The team used their money and equipment to put on demonstration jumps. The team found rooming accommodations under bowling alleys, under roller rinks and at private homes. Back then bowling alleys and roller rinks had rooms under them. The managers of these businesses said, "You should be able to get plenty of sleep - we close at 11 PM."

An advance man was sent out to a proposed demonstration site.
His job was to meet the organizers, find lodging for
the team, find eating facilities, locate a drop zone and last but not
least find an aircraft to jump from along with coordinating with the local
law and the FAA. Each team member took turns acting as the advance man.

The only money the team drew beyond their pay was meal rations as
if they were eating in the mess hall.

During this time the STRAC team had to demonstrate to the
Department of the Army that they were able to represent the US and the US
Army in the areas of Aerial Demonstrations , World Parachute Records and
World Parachute Competition. The team accomplished the mission and was
approved as a US Army Organization in 1961.

The team had an open competition to submit a rendering for a "Pocket
Patch" for the team. Six entries were submitted. The Owl's Head with the knights helmet, submitted by Jerry
Bourquin and co-authored by Lt. William Goodrich, was selected as the pocket patch for the team. Since 1963, the symbol has become recognizable worldwide to mean the 'Golden Knights', the knickname of the USAPT.